How to clean pure copper heatsink?

PLAfiller · Oct 21, 2014

En taro Adun,

I need a bit of help. I want to clean Thermaltake Extreme Spirit 2 and Zalman Vf 900 . Once I remove the moving parts they are pure copper thingies. They need cleaning. I read different recepies. I tried putting the Spirit in water and vinegar (50/50%) - some people suggested lemon juice. It might be a placebo effect, but it looked a bit shinier. So how do you clean a pure copper heatsink? It has to be something I have access to. If any of you had tried before, I'd be grateful for the info.

Cheers :toast:

fullinfusion · Oct 21, 2014

Orange or lemon juice and let sit for a bit. Its a low citric acid and it'll remove the oxidation for sure... But the key is to let it sit for a little while.

erocker · Oct 21, 2014

Brasso. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BILDIU4/?tag=tec06d-20

PLAfiller · Oct 21, 2014

fullinfusion said:
Orange or lemon juice and let sit for a bit. Its a low citric acid and it'll remove the oxidation for sure... But the key is to let it sit for a little while.

I already did a small mistake with the vinegar. I left the Spirit to lay flat on the bottom of the cup for an hour and then it had small rainbow spot. But nothing too major. Now I know I have ti use a small wire to suspend it "floating" in the liquid, not to touch anything if possible.

erocker said:
Brasso. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BILDIU4/?tag=tec06d-20

That looks good, but it's faster to buy a pair of lemons from the shop next to me. Although shipping from UK typically takes a working week to my place. But I might ask around for a local substitute.

Raw · Oct 21, 2014

lZKoce said:
En taro Adun,

I need a bit of help. I want to clean Thermaltake Extreme Spirit 2 and Zalman Vf 900 . Once I remove the moving parts they are pure copper thingies. They need cleaning. I read different recepies. I tried putting the Spirit in water and vinegar (50/50%) - some people suggested lemon juice. It might be a placebo effect, but it looked a bit shinier. So how do you clean a pure copper heatsink? It has to be something I have access to. If any of you had tried before, I'd be grateful for the info.

Cheers

This stuff is pretty good. Just wipe it on with a damp sponge and let dry.
I use it on everything.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ROIG6Y/?tag=tec06d-20

AsRock · Oct 21, 2014

erocker said:
Brasso. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BILDIU4/?tag=tec06d-20

i like the tinned stuff, although just noticed it costs more though but still http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G8YNIM/?tag=tec06d-20

AN walmart sell that one you posted for $3 but it's out of stock atm

.

Lopez0101 · Oct 21, 2014

erocker said:
Brasso. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BILDIU4/?tag=tec06d-20

Wouldn't that leave behind a residue though?

natr0n · Oct 21, 2014

Brasso is messy messy stuff very oily lol.

Try this I'm sure we all have these in kitchen.

AsRock · Oct 21, 2014

natr0n said:
Brasso is messy messy stuff very oily lol.

Try this I'm sure we all have these in kitchen.

Tasted lol, and brasso in a tin is not messy at all.

PLAfiller · Oct 21, 2014

I think I will go with something this guys suggests: http://www.overclock.net/t/704190/how-to-cleaning-copper-heatsinks-with-minimal-elbow-grease . Basically, water+ teaspoon of salt+ vinegar. And then the hard part, I wonder whether I should boil it, like he did, or just soak it for an hour or so. I will post pictures before and after when I am done.

erocker · Oct 21, 2014

Lopez0101 said:
Wouldn't that leave behind a residue though?

Yeah, just wipe it down with a bit of alcohol or something.

GorbazTheDragon · Oct 21, 2014

Emm, I've used steel wool >.>

Silas Woodruff · Oct 21, 2014

GorbazTheDragon said:
Emm, I've used steel wool >.>

That might work with other cooper based objects but I am pretty sure if you use something like that on a heat sink it will reduce it's effectiveness due to scratches and who knows what.

GorbazTheDragon · Oct 21, 2014

Scratches=more surface area <.< /s

Silas Woodruff · Oct 21, 2014

I though Scratches = place where air can accumulate + uneven heat distribution ?

I actually dont understand your logic, how can scratches make anything better, actually why do I bother clearly you are not worth my time anymore.

64K · Oct 21, 2014

It seems like scratches would also catch dust easier making the heat sink less effective but who knows. I've never used a scratched up heat sink to find out.

GorbazTheDragon · Oct 21, 2014

Ughh, why doesn't anyone on the internet understand sarcasm...

OneMoar · Oct 21, 2014

just dust it off and put it back in no need to use chemicals jesus people common sense

xvi · Oct 21, 2014

Silas Woodruff said:
I though Scratches = place where air can accumulate + uneven heat distribution ?

I actually dont understand your logic, how can scratches make anything better, actually why do I bother clearly you are not worth my time anymore.

edit:

OneMoar · Oct 21, 2014

there is something to be said for turbulence's effect on thermal transfer many coolers already take advantage of this
slower air heats up more then faster moving air thats pretty basic

GorbazTheDragon · Oct 21, 2014

In all seriousness I don't really see the point in using the chemicals and such, you are probably also going to end up inducing either unevenness in the surface anyway. Maybe it would just be a good idea to not expose the copper to the air. I mean seriously, most people don't leave their heatsinks lying around, they buy them, install them, and done...

Either way, make sure it is impossible to induce galvanic corrosion, so DO NOT PUT DIFFERENT METALS TOGETHER.

fullinfusion · Oct 21, 2014

Lol how about a couple cans of coke? Put a bit in a beer cap and drop a copper penny in it and let it soak all night. End result: a new shiney penny

Frag_Maniac · Oct 21, 2014

Here ya go. Easy peasy:

http://www.overclock.net/t/704190/how-to-cleaning-copper-heatsinks-with-minimal-elbow-grease

erocker · Oct 21, 2014

GorbazTheDragon said:
In all seriousness I don't really see the point in using the chemicals and such, you are probably also going to end up inducing either unevenness in the surface anyway. Maybe it would just be a good idea to not expose the copper to the air. I mean seriously, most people don't leave their heatsinks lying around, they buy them, install them, and done...

Either way, make sure it is impossible to induce galvanic corrosion, so DO NOT PUT DIFFERENT METALS TOGETHER.

No more, if not less than steel wool. All you're using Brasso for is to get the tarnish/corrosion and light scratches out. It leaves a nice shine too.

PLAfiller · Oct 22, 2014

Frag Maniac said:
Here ya go. Easy peasy:

http://www.overclock.net/t/704190/how-to-cleaning-copper-heatsinks-with-minimal-elbow-grease

- yep, I posted this a bit up. However, there's other than copper elements. Is it ok to boil them too?

Here's the victim: (picture taken: Galaxy SIII mini), after a quick (15 min) bath of salt+vinegar. Not much change.

1.

2.

3.

4.

It's pretty beat up, but still serving duty. Honestly said I kinda lost steam to try and clean it. I don't really think it's gonna make a huge difference. And the dust is SO stuck on these tiny fins. I might still try with the boiling, but what about that bracket which is not copper?

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How to clean pure copper heatsink?

PLAfiller

fullinfusion

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erocker

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PLAfiller

Raw

AsRock

TPU addict

Lopez0101

natr0n

AsRock

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PLAfiller

erocker

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GorbazTheDragon

Silas Woodruff

GorbazTheDragon

Silas Woodruff

64K

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OneMoar

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OneMoar

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PLAfiller

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